Sen. Bob Menendez Defense Rests Case In Bribery And Fraud Trial

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The protection within the bribery trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez rested its case Monday, shortly after the decide turned down a bid to have a mistrial declared over his rulings in the course of the trial.

Neither the Democratic senator from New Jersey nor co-defendant Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye physician, testified in the course of the trial, which in its ninth week. Closing arguments are anticipated later this week after the decide and attorneys choose directions for the jury.

An indictment costs Menendez and Melgen with an extended-operating bribery scheme by which Menendez allegedly traded political affect for presents together with flights on Melgen’s personal jet between the U.S. and Melgen’s residence at a Dominican Republic resort.

Each males have claimed the presents have been an expression of their longtime friendship, and that there was no bribery association.

Probably the most critical cost they face, trustworthy providers fraud, carries a most 20-yr jail sentence.

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Amongst witnesses the protection group referred to as have been two U.S. senators — Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who has recognized Menendez for greater than 20 years, and Democrat Cory Booker, who represents New Jersey alongside Menendez.

Each testified final week that they knew Menendez to be trustworthy and reliable.

On Monday, U.S. District Decide William Partitions started by chastising protection attorneys for a mistrial request he stated was devoid of “even palpable benefit.”

Attorneys had accused Partitions throughout a weekend submitting of tying their arms by limiting what proof and witnesses they might current to the jury.

The submitting alleged Partitions’ rulings disadvantaged the defendants “of their Fifth and Sixth Amendments rights to a good trial, to an enough protection, and to confront the witnesses towards them.”

In strongly worded remarks Monday, Partitions chided the protection for “failing to acknowledge that they’re sure by the principles of proof.

“There’s not even palpable benefit to what you would like,” he added.

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Central to an indictment that fees the lads with bribery, fraud and conspiracy is that in return for the presents, Menendez pressured government department officers to assist the ophthalmologist together with his $eight.9 million Medicare billing dispute and with a stalled port screening contract within the Dominican Republic.